Excellence in Teaching

Mr. Steve Best

Mr. Steve Best has been a member of the Charleston Southern University faculty since
1973. His father was in the military, so Mr. Best has called many places home, the
last place being Fayetteville, NC, where his father retired. Mr. Best earned his bachelor's
and master's degrees from Clemson University, in the fields of biology and zoology.
He taught at Greenville Tech for two years before coming to Charleston Southern (then
Baptist College). He was also a teaching assistant at Clemson while in graduate school.

Mr. Best decided to come to Charleston Southern because there was a job opening and
he already knew some people on campus. Over the years he has found several techniques
to be successful in the classroom. The Biology Department was one of the first to
use full-course syllabi in the classroom, covering everything to be taught in the
semester. They also use a good bit of audio-visual, including video lab tapes for
the students. The professors make a video tape of the labs, and if the students want
to borrow them to use as a review for the test, they bring in a new tape exchange
the two. The student gets their tape back when they return the lab tape. He has also
found that making the labs high-impact and participatory is another successful technique.

I'm proof that lightning can strike twice in the same place, since I've been awarded
twice, he says. But Mr. Best doesn't take any credit for himself. While he is concerned
that all students have a chance for success, it is the entire Biology Department that
makes up his teaching excellence. Mr. Best feels all students love biology, but not
all are successful in the classroom. We give students a roadmap for success. If they
follow the guidelines, they will be successful. But not all of them stay on track.
He feels that getting to know the students by their name is one part of excellent
teaching. And though appointments are nice, they aren't necessary if a student needs
to meet with Mr. Best. The Biology Department is very accessible, and the doors are
always open.

Mr. Best thinks that students find it interesting that he was in the military for
over twenty years. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, and did extensive traveling
while in the service, which kept him up-to-date with national and international affairs.
He feels this diverse background has helped in the classroom. While not directly related
to his work, Mr. Best loves the outdoors. He lives on the water, has four boats, and
enjoys camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, and playing and watching sports. He also
enjoys remodeling, both inside and outside he has added a back porch to his house
and put down new floors and tile. I like to think up a plan, sketch it, and then do
it.